A dad told his four-year-old daughter the Easter bunny, Santa and the Tooth Fairy weren't real because lying to your kids is "gaslighting".<br /><br />Mathew Boudreaux, 47, believes honesty to be the best policy when it comes to parenting. <br /><br />And when their daughter Helena, now nine, started to ask questions aged four, they answered truthfully.<br /><br />The professional crafter told her the Easter Bunny, Santa and Tooth Fairy weren't real - but she could play along if she wanted.<br /><br />Helena decided she didn't want to "pretend" the Easter Bunny was real but still takes part in Easter traditions such as egg hunts and eating chocolate.<br /><br />Despite "knowing the truth" Helena plays along with other children and doesn't tell them the Easter bunny isn't real.<br /><br />Matthew said said they told her the truth because lying to kids about Santa and the Easter Bunny "is global gaslighting"<br /><br />The married dad-of-one from Camas, Washington, USA, said: "For me Easter is all about family and we aren't taking any magic away. <br /><br />"Helena started asking questions when she was four about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy and we chose not to lie to her.<br /><br />"There is an element of morality between lying and not lying - the second choice is the right choice<br /><br />"I'm not taking away any magic.<br /><br />"For us we didn't want to have lies there's a different psychologically between pretending and lying- when it comes to lying you can opt in<br /><br />"Lying takes away a child's ability to critically think.<br /><br />"We're removing the option of consent when we lie- we gave her the option to opt in to pretend<br /><br />"I don't lie because it discredits the child's critical thinking and it creates a problem for the rest of the world who don't participate in those traditions.<br /><br />"It's global gaslighting to lie on this scale - it is absolutely still bananas to me why those who choose not to lie are the villains in this story<br /><br />"Just because everyone is doing it - doesn't mean it's moral."<br /><br />Mathew says Helena opts to play consensual make believe when it comes to Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy but believes a giant bunny entering her home is a step too far for the imagination. <br /><br />"She chose she didn't want to pretend the Easter Bunny was real but we still take part in all the fun stuff," they said.<br /><br />"We will have a big dinner, make crochet Easter bunnies and do an Easter egg hunt."<br /><br />According to Mathew, Helena plays along with her classmates and doesn't reveal the lie to them .<br /><br />Mathew said: "To the outsider you wouldn't know the difference, I told her when she was old enough to understand this part of it other children's parents chose to not tell the truth and its their parents responsibilities to tell them."<br /><br />Mathew says parents lying to their children creates a problem further down the line and could cause them to lose trust in the world.<br /><br />They added: "Honesty is the most important component.<br /><br />"Parents don't need to tell their kids any of this is real- they can choose to play make believe. <br /><br />"We're having a blast pretending."
